Deciphering physiological role of the mechanosensitive TRPV4 channel in the distal nephron.

Long-standing experimental evidence suggests that epithelial cells in the renal tubule are able to sense osmotic and pressure gradients caused by alterations in ultrafiltrate flow by elevating intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. These responses are viewed as critical regulators of a variety of processes ranging from transport of water and solutes to cellular growth and differentiation. A loss in the ability to sense mechanical stimuli has been implicated in numerous pathologies associated with systemic imbalance of electrolytes and to the development of polycystic kidney disease. The molecular mechanisms conferring mechanosensitive properties to epithelial tubular cells involve activation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, such as TRPV4, allowing direct Ca(2+) influx to increase intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. In this review, we critically analyze the current evidence about signaling determinants of TRPV4 activation by luminal flow in the distal nephron and discuss how dysfunction of this mechanism contributes to the progression of polycystic kidney disease. We also review the physiological relevance of TRPV4-based mechanosensitivity in controlling flow-dependent K(+) secretion in the distal renal tubule.

Modulation of cell membrane area in renal collecting tubules by corticosteroid hormones.

Isolated renal cortical collecting tubules obtained from rabbits treated chronically with desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) have been found to possess elevated transepithelial potential differences and a greatly increased capacity for ion transport. Structural exmination of tubules from rabbits exposed to either DOCA or dexamethasone for 11--18 d reveals a marked increase in basolateral cell membrane area in these tubules. Morphometric analysis shows that this effect is specifically on the basolateral membrane area of only one of the two cell types found in this nephron segment. Increases of greater than 140% and 90% are found for the basolateral membrane area of the principal cells for DOCA and dexamethasone, respectively, but no change could be detected in the basolateral membrane area of the intercalated cells found in this nephron segment. No siginificant changes were found in luminal membrane area, cell number, or cell volume for either cell type. These observations demonstrate that significant changes in membrane area can occur in differentiated epithelia and suggest that this may be an important mechanism for modulating epithelial transport capacity.

Identifying the Ca(++) signalling sources activating chloride currents in Xenopus oocytes using ionomycin and thapsigargin.

The calcium ionophore, ionomycin (IM), and the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SER) calcium pump inhibitor, thapsigargin (TG), were used to study the roles of Ca(++) from different sources in regulating Ca(++)-dependent Cl(-) currents in Xenopus oocytes. The Ca(++)-dependent Cl(-) currents, Ic, were measured in voltage-clamped oocytes (Vc = -60 mV). In the presence of extracellular Ca(++), both TG (0.1 to 10 microM) and IM (0.1 to 10 microM) induce release of Ca(++) from SER and activated capacitative Ca(++) entry (CCE) across the plasma membrane leading to activation of both "fast" and "slow" Cl(-) currents. The fast Ic was produced by Ca(++) release from SER while Ca(++) entry across the plasma membrane activated the slow Ic. Intracellular application of the calcium buffer, BAPTA, blocked activation of the slow Ic due to Ca(++) entry via CCE pathways, but not via IM-mediated movement across the plasma membrane. It is concluded that predominantly Ca(++) release from stores regulates a fast Ic while Ca(++) entry through CCE pathways regulates a slow Ic. Further, the CCE and slow Ic pathways must be located in spatially separated compartments since BAPTA can effectively abolish the effects of Ca(++) entry via the CCE pathway, but not by the IM-mediated entry pathway.

Kinetics of activation of a PKC-regulated epithelial calcium channel.

The kinetics of calcium entry through regulated calcium channels in cultured renal proximal tubule cells was studied with Fura-2 fluorescence ratio imaging in single cells. The calcium entry was activated by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) and phorbol-12-myristat-13-acetate (PMA), similar to that observed for activation by osmo-mechanical stress. OAG (2.5 microM) or PMA (0.5 microM) activated calcium entry is characterized by a significant latency between agonist application and the response, whereas the effect of osmo-mechanical stress was immediate. This pre-response latency was 260 +/- 70s with OAG stimulation and 79.2 +/- 17.3s with PMA stimulation. Once a cell responds, the intracellular calcium level reaches a peak value within seconds. The cell response to agonist is independent of the response of neighboring cells. The response kinetics resembles those of the calcium sparks in excitable cells, except the response is much slower. In all cases, the response appears to be an all-or-none event, that is characteristics of an elementary binary switch. It is suggested that the binary response and the lack of coordinated response of calcium entry in single cells results from limited availability of the calcium channels and/or PKC that activates the channel. The experimental data could be fit to a single binary response mathematical model assuming each response reflected an elementary event of a single channel opening or a co-ordinated opening of a cluster of several channels.

Insulin reduces contraction and intracellular calcium concentration in vascular smooth muscle.

Resistance to insulin-induced glucose disposal is associated with hypertension, in accord with recent reports that insulin-induced vasodilation is impaired in men with resistance to insulin-induced glucose disposal. Nevertheless, the mechanism of insulin-induced vasodilation is not known. We wished to determine whether a physiological concentration of insulin inhibits agonist-induced contraction at the level of the individual vascular smooth muscle cell, and if so, how. Dispersed vascular smooth muscle cells from dog femoral artery were grown on collagen gels for 4 to 8 days. Contraction and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of individual cells were measured by photomicroscopy and fura 2 epifluorescence microscopy, respectively. Serotonin and angiotensin II contracted cells in a dose-dependent manner. Preincubation of cells for 20 minutes (short-term) or 7 days (long-term) with insulin (40 microU/mL) inhibited serotonin- and angiotensin II-induced contractions by approximately 50%. Insulin (10 microU/mL) acutely inhibited serotonin-induced contraction by 34%. The maximal effect of high extracellular K(+)-induced contraction was not affected by short-term insulin exposure, but the ED50 for extracellular K(+)-induced contraction was increased from 7.6 +/- 2.5 to 16.0 +/- 3.9 mmol/L (P < .05). Short-term insulin exposure also attenuated the peak rise of the serotonin-induced intracellular Ca2+ transient and increased the rate constant for intracellular Ca2+ decline. Verapamil and ouabain completely blocked the attenuation of agonist-induced contraction by short-term insulin exposure, indicating the importance of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and the Na(+)-K+ pump for this effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Osmomechanical stress selectively regulates translocation of protein kinase C isoforms.

Osmomechanical stress, resulting in cell swelling and activation/regulation of numerous cellular processes, may play a critical role in cell signaling by selectively regulating translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms from cytosol to membrane compartments. Western blotting of renal epithelial cell fractions demonstrated the expression of five PKC isoforms. Three of these isoforms (PKCalpha, PKCepsilon, PKCzeta) translocated to the membrane fraction upon exposure of cells to osmomechanical stress (hypotonic medium). Immunohistochemical staining of cells using isoform-specific antibodies further demonstrated translocation of the phorbol ester-sensitive isoforms, PKCalpha and PKCepsilon, to both the plasma membrane and perinuclear sites, reflecting potential initial steps in regulation of specific effector pathways. Indeed, selective inhibition of PKCs indicates a potential role for PKCalpha in modulating a calcium influx channel. It is concluded that osmomechanical stress induces selective translocation of specific PKC isoforms, demonstrating a key role of osmomechanical stress in selectively regulating PKC-dependent signaling pathways.

Aldosterone regulation of sodium and potassium transport in the cortical collecting duct.

The aldosterone-induced up-regulation of Na absorption and K secretion in the CCD is complex and involves the regulation of numerous transport proteins. Some aspects of the response may be species dependent. For example, stimulation of Na and K transport in the rabbit CCD involves a marked up-regulation in the apical cell membrane Na and K conductances, the basolateral cell membrane K conductance, and the basolateral membrane NaK-ATPase activity. In the rat CCD, aldosterone causes a similar up-regulation in the NaK-ATPase and the apical membrane Na conductance, but supposedly has little influence on the apical and basolateral membrane K conductances as evaluated by indirect methods. Furthermore, the marked hyperpolarization of the basolateral membrane with long-term aldosterone treatment in the rabbit CCD is blunted or absent in the rat CCD. Other differences between the CCD of these two species have been outlined. Nonetheless, the basic responses of the CCDs from the two species show similar trends. The actions of aldosterone in the CCD principal cell are summarized in Figure 5. The initial steps have been described previously. Aldosterone (A) diffuse across the cell membrane and binds to a cytoplasmic receptor (R). The receptor complex moves into the nucleus and binds to an acceptor site on chromatin, initiating transcription and the subsequent synthesis of a myriad of new proteins referred to as aldosterone-induced proteins (AIP). The initial observed action of aldosterone is an upregulation of the apical membrane Na conductance during the early phase, which occurs within 1 to 2 hours. The increase in Na conductance likely reflects activation of preexisting latent Na channels and not synthesis of new channels, although activation does require protein synthesis. The increased Na influx during the early phase presents a larger Na load to the Na pump, which is likely reflected as a modest transient increase in intracellular Na activity. Based on kinetic considerations alone, this should cause an increased transport turnover of the pump with a greater Na extrusion rate and K uptake rate. The stimulated Na influx also causes a modest depolarization of the apical membrane during the early phase, which when combined with the increased K uptake via the pump and an apparent modest elevation in the intracellular K activity, results in a more favorable gradient for K secretion (increased driving force) into the tubule lumen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Modulating Ca2+ in radiation-induced apoptosis suppresses DNA fragmentation but does not enhance clonogenic survival.

The role of intracellular Ca2+ in radiation-induced apoptosis was studied in a cell line derived from a mouse B-cell lymphoma (LY-TH). These cells had previously been shown to be sensitive to radiation and to die by apoptosis. The cell permeant Ca2+ chelator (acetyoxymethyl-)1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tet raacetic acid (BAPTA/AM) reduced the DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis but had no effect on clonogenic survival. Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations measured using the fluorescent indicator fura-2 only slowly increased over control values after cells were irradiated unlike the rapid increase observed in other systems. Our results indicate that modulating the endpoint of DNA fragmentation using some agents may not necessarily alter the cells' commitment to death as determined by clonogenic survival assays. This suggests that such agents play a role downstream of early initiation steps in apoptosis and modulate only particular features of apoptosis after the cell is committed to die.

Video-enhanced microscopy of organelle movement in an intact epithelium.

Digitally enhanced video microscopy has provided improved optical resolution in the study of intracellular organelle/particle movement, particularly in extruded axoplasm and certain thin single cell systems. We report here, for the first time, particle movement in an intact, isolated epithelium, the killifish proximal convoluted tubule. Cytoplasmic particles exhibited predominantly unidirectional linear movement approaching several microns in length, sometimes with multiple turns. The velocities of 34 particles measured in 11 cells averaged 0.29 microns/sec (range, 0.007-3.1 microns/sec). Microtubules--the well-established basis for organelle movement in cells--were present but were sparsely represented in electron micrographs of these cells. Video-enhanced microscopic techniques can now be applied to the study of organelle/particle movement in an intact epithelium.

Potassium secretion by the cortical collecting tubule.

The isolated perfused rabbit cortical collecting tubule has been shown to actively transport K from bath to lumen. The first step in this process is active uptake of K across the basolateral membrane via and Na:K exchange pump as evidenced by: 1) basolateral localization and Na:K exchange properties of the ouabain-sensitive Na,K-ATPase, 2) ouabain sensitivity of the Na and K fluxes, 3) interdependence of the Na and K fluxes, and 4) ouabain-sensitivity of 42K uptake into the cell across the basolateral membrane. At the luminal border, a significant K permeability of the apical cell membrane has been identified using electrophysiological techniques. This K permeability is insensitive to the diuretic amiloride, and, thus, differs from the pathway for Na entry, which is highly amiloride sensitive. A significant K permeability of the paracellular pathway is not apparent. It is concluded that K secretion by the rabbit cortical collecting tubule occurs via a two-step process: active uptake of K across the basolateral membrane via the Na:K exchange pump, followed by passive efflux of K across the apical membrane via an amiloride-insensitive K conductive pathway.

Osmo-mechanically sensitive phosphatidylinositol signaling regulates a Ca2+ influx channel in renal epithelial cells.

Regulation of dihydropyridine (nifedipine)-sensitive calcium influx was studied in rabbit culture proximal tubule cells using the fura 2 fluorescence ratio technique. "Osmo-mechanically induced" swelling of cells by exposure to hypotonic medium (220 mosmol/kgH2O) caused a rapid rise in intracellular calcium that was predominantly due to influx of calcium via both dihydropyridine-sensitive (nifedipine-sensitive) and -insensitive calcium influx pathways. The dihydropyridine-sensitive pathway was regulated, in part, by the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Inhibition of phospholipase C by treatment with 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-N,N-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC), inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) by staurosporine, or long-term (24 h) treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to downregulate PKC abolished most of the osmo-induced, dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium influx signal. Short-term (seconds) PMA treatment to activate PKC produced a marked stimulation of both dihydropyridine-sensitive and -insensitive calcium influx in isotonic (2- to 3-fold stimulation) and hypotonic (5-fold stimulation) conditions. In contrast, elevation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) by treatment with forskolin or inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) by treatment with the cAMP analog, Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS (the Rp diastereoisomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothionate), had little or no influence on calcium influx, including dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium influx. It is concluded that osmo-mechanical stress activates a dihyropyridine-sensitive calcium influx pathway that is predominantly regulated via the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway and PKC and not through the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.

Functional differentiation of cell types of cortical collecting duct.

Interference-contrast and fluorescent microscopy were used to differentiate between the two cell types--principal cells (PC) and intercalated cells (IC)--of the isolated perfused cortical collecting duct of the rabbit. Using Hoffman Modulation Contrast optics, two types of cell outlines could be identified: "hexagonal" and "circular" profiles. To characterize the cell types further, the binding of fluorescein-labeled peanut lectin, which has been shown to be specific for the luminal cell membrane of the IC, was monitored with epifluorescent techniques. The lectin was observed to bind to the circular cell type only, confirming it as the IC. With use of the fluorescent nuclear probe acridine orange to quantitate the total number of cells per millimeter of tubule length, the fraction of ICs (lectin-binding cells) was estimated to average 29%, and the fraction of PCs (non-lectin-binding cells) to average 71% of all cells. The studies were extended to functionally separate between the two cell types by monitoring cell swelling when a lumen-to-bath current pulse was passed. Current-induced swelling was observed only in the PC and could be inhibited by the luminal addition of both the Na+ channel blocker amiloride, and the K+ channel blocker barium, thereby implicating the PC in the process of Na+ absorption and K+ secretion in this tissue. It is concluded that optical techniques can be applied to the cortical collecting duct perfused in vitro to differentiate between and study functional properties of the cell types.

Electrophysiological properties of cellular and paracellular conductive pathways of the rabbit cortical collecting duct.

Microelectrode techniques were applied to the rabbit isolated perfused cortical collecting duct to provide an initial quantitation and characterization of the cell membrane and tight junction conductances. Initial studies demonstrated that the fractional resistance (ratio of the resistance of the apical cell membrane to the sum of the resistances of the apical and basolateral membranes) was usually independent of the point along the tubule of microelectrode impalement--implicating little cell-to-cell coupling--supporting the application of quantitative techniques to the cortical collecting duct. It was demonstrated that in the presence of amiloride, either reduction in the luminal pH or the addition of barium to the perfusate selectively reduced the apical membrane potassium conductance. From the changes in Gte and fractional resistance upon reducing the luminal pH or addition of barium to the perfusate, the transepithelial, apical membrane, basolateral membrane and tight junction conductances were estimated to be 9.3, 6.7, 8.1 and 6.0 mS cm-2, respectively. Ninety to ninety-five percent of the apical membrane conductance reflected the barium-sensitive potassium conductance in the presence of amiloride with an estimated potassium permeability of 1.1 X 10(-4) cm sec-1. Reduction in the perfusate pH to 4.0 caused a 70% decrease in the apical membrane potassium conductance, implying a blocking site with an acidic group having a pKa near 4.4. It is concluded that both the transcellular and paracellular pathways of the cortical collecting tubule have high ionic conductances, and that the apical membrane conductance primarily reflects a high potassium conductance. Furthermore, both reduction in the perfusate pH and addition of barium to the perfusate selectively block the apical potassium channels, although the site of inhibition likely differs since the two ions display markedly different voltage-dependent blocks of the channel.

Characterization of apical cell membrane Na+ and K+ conductances of cortical collecting duct using microelectrode techniques.

The apical cell membrane ionic conductive properties of the isolated perfused rabbit cortical collecting duct (tubule) were assessed at 37 degrees C using microelectrode techniques. In the initial evaluation of the methodology, it was observed that stable cell membrane voltage recordings could be obtained by impaling cells either from the luminal side across the apical cell membrane or from the bath side across the basolateral cell membrane, providing initial evidence supporting the application of these techniques to this tissue. With the latter method of impalement, it was observed that addition of amiloride (50 microM) to the luminal perfusate caused a hyperpolarization of the apical cell membrane voltage, a decrease in the transepithelial conductance, and an increase in the fractional resistance (estimated as the ratio of the resistance of the apical cell membrane to the sum of apical and basolateral cell membrane resistances). These results are consistent with an amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductance at the apical cell border. In a similar manner it was deduced from the effects of elevating K+ in the luminal perfusate from 5 to either 25 or 50 mM that there was a high K+ conductance at the apical border. This conductive pathway was blocked by the luminal addition of 5 mM Ba2+ or reduction of the luminal pH to 4.0. Furthermore, since addition of both amiloride and Ba2+ to the perfusate caused the fractional resistance to increase from 0.52 +/- 0.04 to 0.91 +/- 0.03, the Na+ and K+ conductances are the apparent dominant conductive pathways at that border. It is concluded that microelectrode techniques can be applied successfully to the cortical collecting duct and that the apical cell membrane possesses an amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductance and a Ba2+- and H+-sensitive K+ conductance.

Dihydropyridine-sensitive cell volume regulation in proximal tubule: the calcium window.

The mechanism underlying the activation of hypotonic cell volume regulation was studied in rabbit proximal straight tubule (PST). When isolated non-perfused tubules were exposed to hypotonic solution, cells swelled rapidly and then underwent a regulatory volume decrease (RVD). The extent of regulation after swelling was highly dependent on extracellular Ca concentration ([Ca2+]o), with a half-maximal inhibition (K1/2) for [Ca2+]o of approximately 100 microM. RVD was blocked by the Ca-channel blockers verapamil, lanthanum, and the dihydropyridines (DHP) nifedipine and nitrendipine, implicating voltage-activated Ca channels in the RVD response. Using the fura-2 fluorescence-ratio technique, we observed that cell swelling caused a sustained rise in intracellular Ca ([Ca2+]i) only when [Ca2+]o was normal (1 mM) but not when [Ca2+]o was low (1-10 microM). Furthermore, external Ca was required early on during swelling to induce RVD. If RVD was initially blocked by reducing [Ca2+]o or by addition of verapamil during hypotonic swelling, volume regulation could only be restored by subsequently inducing Ca entry within the first 1 min or less of exposure to hypotonic solution. These data indicate a "calcium window" of less than 1 min, during which RVD is sensitive to Ca, and that part of the Ca-dependent mechanism responsible for achieving RVD undergoes inactivation after swelling. It is concluded that RVD in rabbit PST is modulated by Ca via a DHP-sensitive mechanism in a time-dependent manner.

Effect of amiloride on the apical cell membrane cation channels of a sodium-absorbing, potassium-secreting renal epithelium.

The effect of the K-sparing diuretic amiloride was assessed electrophysiologically in the isolated cortical collecting tubule of the rabbit, a segment which absorbs Na and secretes K. Low concentrations of amiloride in the perfusate caused a rapid, reversible, decrease in the magnitude of the lumen negative transepithelial potential difference, Vte, transepithelial conductance Gte, and equivalent short-circuit current, Isc, with an apparent K1/2 of approximately 7 X 10(-8) M. The effects of a maximum inhibitory concentration of amiloride (10(-5) M) were identical to those observed upon Na removal from lumen and bath (Na removal from the bath alone has no effect). Removal of Na in the presence of 10(-5) M amiloride had no affect on Vte, Gte, or Isc, and is consistent with the view that amiloride blocks the Na conductive pathways of the apical cell membrane. Further, in the absence of Na, the subsequent addition of amiloride had no influence. In tubules where active Na absorption was either spontaneously low, or abolished by removal of Na from lumen and bath, the elevation of K from 5 to 155 meq/liter in the perfusate caused a marked change of the Vte in the negative direction and an increase in the Gte. These effects could be attributed to a high K permeability of the apical cell membrane and not of the tight junctions. Amiloride (10(-5) M) had no effect on these responses to K. It is concluded that amiloride selectively blocks the apical cell membrane Na channels but has no effect on the K conductive pathway(s). This selective nature of amiloride may indicate that Na and K are transported across the apical cell membrane via separate conductive pathways.

Time-dependent actions of aldosterone and amiloride on Na+-K+-ATPase of cortical collecting duct.

The actions of aldosterone on Vmax Na+-K+-ATPase activity and length of latent period were assessed for the rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD). Initially, animals were moderately aldosterone depleted and then treated with a constant infusion of physiological doses of aldosterone. Aldosterone administration had no influence after 3 h but caused a detectable increase with 6 (borderline significance) or more hours. An apparent plateau was reached between 24 and 48 h at twice the initial activity. This aldosterone-induced stimulation could be abolished by simultaneous treatment of the animals with amiloride, demonstrating a Na+-dependent modulation of the Vmax Na+-K+-ATPase activity. The aldosterone-stimulated enzyme had kinetic properties similar to those reported by others, but the latent period for aldosterone action on the Vmax Na+-K+-ATPase activity averaged near 6 h in the present study, as opposed to the highly variable period (from 1 h to several days) seen by others. This latent period variability was shown to be directly related to the initial Vmax Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the CCD and could be likened to an "end product dependent" latent period, i.e., the lower the initial end product (Vmax Na+-K+-ATPase activity) the shorter the latent period. Hence aldosterone's actions on the Na+-K+-ATPase of the CCD would be consistent with a single mechanism of action, i.e., increased synthesis, but with a variable modulation of this synthesis, which is dependent on the initial Vmax Na+-K+-ATPase activity of the CCD cells and/or the initial aldosterone status of the animal.

Ionic conductive properties and electrophysiology of the rabbit cortical collecting tubule.

The Na, K, and Cl conductive properties and the electrophysiological variability of the rabbit isolated cortical collecting tubule were assessed by evaluating the effect of single-ion substitutions on the transepithelial potential difference, Vte, and the transepithelial conductance, Gte. The Na permeability (and conductance) of the tight junction and basolateral cell membrane appeared to be low. However, a significant but variable amiloride-sensitive Na conductance was identified at the apical cell membrane. Although this Na conductance accounts for less than 10% of the Gte, variations in this conductance caused major alterations in the active transepithelial Na current and the Vte. A highly variable K permeability (and conductance) was also identified at the apical cell border and may account for some of the variability in Vte and Gte. This probably provides a pathway for K secretion from cell to lumen. The K permeability of the tight junction and basolateral cell membrane appeared to be relatively low. In contrast, the Cl permeability (and conductance) of the tight junction, and perhaps of the basolateral cell membrane, appeared to be high but variable and to account for the major fraction of the Gte and its variability. It is concluded that variations in the Na and K conductance of the apical cell membrane and the Cl conductance of the tight junction and basolateral cell membrane predominantly account for the variations in the electrophysiological properties of the cortical collecting tubule.

Cell swelling activates basolateral membrane Cl and K conductances in rabbit proximal tubule.

The ionic basis of volume regulation was assessed in the nonperfused rabbit proximal tubule (S2 segment) by use of simultaneous measurements of tubule volume via video-optical imaging techniques and basolateral membrane voltage (Vbl) and relative ionic conductance via conventional microelectrodes. Both cell volume (9.9 +/- 0.70 nl/cm tubule length) and Vbl (-42.8 +/- 3.6 mV) remained stable in the control isotonic Ringer solution (290 mosmol/kg). When the osmolality of the bathing medium was reduced to 150 mosmol/kg, tubules swelled 72% above base line within 1 min and subsequently regulated over the course of the next 4-6 min to a steady state 20 +/- 3% above the initial base-line volume. Cell swelling was accompanied by a transient hyperpolarization of Vbl of -14.3 +/- 2.0 mV (HCO3-containing Ringer) and -10.0 +/- 0.7 mV (HCO3-free Ringer). Although the hyperpolarization was not inhibited by barium in the presence of bicarbonate buffer, addition of 2 mM Ba to a bicarbonate-free Ringer depolarized Vbl by +22 mV and abolished both the relative potassium conductance and the hyperpolarization accompanying cell swelling (delta Vbl = -4.6 +/- 0.6 mV). Furthermore, the relative conductance of K at the basolateral membrane increased from 0.16 in the isotonic control medium to 0.34 at the peak of cell swelling. Because the hyperpolarization of Vbl ensued after cells had swollen approximately 10% above base line, a modest threshold volume and time delay may be involved in triggering the volume-dependent activation of the K conductance. In parallel studies, the change in Vbl on a rapid step-change in bath Cl (49 to 4.9 mM) averaged 5.3 +/- 1.0 mV in the isotonic solution and increased to +11.3 +/- 2.1 (P less than or equal to 0.05) at the peak of cell swelling. This represented an increase in the relative Cl conductance of 0.08 to 0.20, which could only be attributed to an absolute increase in the basolateral membrane Cl conductance and not to a reduction in the other major basolateral membrane conductances. It is concluded that cell swelling results in an increase in both Cl and K conductance, which may underlie subsequent cell volume regulation.